Some Landslide-Affected Homes Will Soon Have Gas Services Again

PALOS VERDES, CA — Some Palos Verdes homes in the Portuguese Bend landslide area will soon have access to natural gas services again, the Southern California Gas Company announced Thursday.

Gas was shut off to more than two dozen homes in the Seaview area and the Portuguese Bend Beach Club last year, following infrastructure issues in August caused by the land movement, which prevented SoCalGas from safely providing services to the area.

On Thursday, SoCalGas said it would begin upgrading and testing its infrastructure in the Seaview area on May 27 to return gas to homeowners.

The upgrades replacing portions of the gas mains and services and installing safety equipment such as automatic shut-off valves, isolation valves, pipeline pressure monitors, and more survey markers, according to the company. The new installations will then be tested for leaks before technicians begin restoring gas services for homeowners who want it, the company said.

“We are grateful to these communities for their patience during what we know has been a difficult time,” Maria Martinez, director of gas engineering for SoCalGas, said in a statement Thursday. “Given the sustained decreases in land movement, we look forward to the safe restoration of natural gas service for those who are ready to reconnect.”

However, the Portuguese Bend Beach Club and some affected homes in Rolling Hills will continue to go without service, as the SoCalGas officials said the company is still developing designs and implementation plans to restore gas in those communities.

Although gas services are returning, Southern California Edison said returning electricity to these homes is still risky despite the slowing land movement.

In a statement on May 19, the electricity company said it needs to see a continued and sustained reduction in land movement near its circuits.

Heavy rains last year caused the landslide to move at an unprecedented rate of several inches per week, prompting the city the install install deep dewatering wells to relieve water pressure on the slide plane as a short-term solution.

Recent droughts have slowed down the movement. Since February, the land near the Seaview and the Portuguese Bend Beach Club has been minimal, with no measurable land movement, according to SoCalGas, which said it has been extensively monitoring the area.

But the affected cities are facing financial issues that could help with long-term planning to address the landslides.

In April, the Federal Emergency Management Agency announced it was ending a program that was expected to help Rancho Palos Verdes get ahead of potential future issues caused by the landslide.

Rancho Palos Verdes announced this week that a $42 million program from the city, state and federal governments would grant funding for it to buy 23 homes impacted by the landslides. The bought-out land would be converted into an open space area with restricted development.

Still, the city has yet to receive the $42 million, and therefore, it may be years before homeowners receive a buyout.

Local Editor Rachel Barnes contributed to this report.